Title: The use of mobile devices for information sharing in a technology-supported model of care in A&E

Authors: Lynne P. Baldwin, Phuay Hui Low, Claire Picton, Terry Young

Addresses: School of Information Systems, Computing and Mathematics, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, UK. ' School of Information Systems, Computing and Mathematics, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, UK. ' A&E Unit, The Hillingdon Hospital, Pield Heath Road, Hillingdon, UB8 3NN, UK. ' School of Information Systems, Computing and Mathematics, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, UK

Abstract: Using a case study as an example, this paper illustrates the current model of care in Accident and Emergency (A&E); in particular, the |cells| in which data/information is stored and how explicit and accessible it is (or is not) to healthcare professionals. It is a model of care which may be summed up as static information/dynamic clinicians. This paper then describes how mobile devices may be used to track patients through an A&E department. From there, a model of care is proposed that has at its core the notion of dynamic information/static clinicians which takes into account the potential and likelihood of such mobile technology being used to support healthcare professionals in the future. It is argued, however, that such |disruptive technologies| are merely tools at our disposal and that it is human activity which must be foremost when considering how we might work differently (|better|) in treating and/or dealing with patients.

Keywords: accident and emergency units; A&E; waiting times; patient monitoring; model of care; disruptive technologies; mobile devices; information sharing; patient care; electronic healthcare; mobile healthcare; m-health; e-health.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEH.2007.011482

International Journal of Electronic Healthcare, 2007 Vol.3 No.1, pp.90 - 106

Published online: 30 Nov 2006 *

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